Soda Crate Moral Dilemma (& Informal Survey)
I have a moral dilemma and will go along with whatever the majority reply. Last week went to the Big City (2 hour drive). Heading back home got a flat on the interstate. While putting on the spare ...
Forum Discussion
My first and immediate thought about your question was, "Keep it. It's yours now."
But, having read through all the posts up to this point has changed my thoughts.
Just the fact that you even posted this question tells me you have a moral conscious and you are having a struggle inside you trying to determine what is right and what is not right. And here is my conclusion...
You have to live with yourself and with your own conscious. As a wise old man once told me, "Be true to yourself." In other words, you KNOW what the right thing is. If you try to convince yourself otherwise, you will forever not feel right about your decision and you'll struggle with that every time you look at the box and see the name of that company on it. You'll continue to convince yourself it was OK to keep it, but deep down inside, your conscious will not let you accept that. So, you are living a lie. You are NOT being true to yourself.
It originally was not yours and technically, the owner did not give it to you either. You could have left it on the side of the road and been done with it and never given it another though. But, you did pick it up, and now you have to find rest to your soul. Having internal peace and contentment is not worth anything material in this world. Don't sell yourself out.
Here's what I suggest. Make a true, genuine, 100% effort to contact the distributor on the crate. (Phone call is adequate). You may get trapped in voice-mail-hell, but hang in there until you can talk to a real person. Then explain your story and ask if they want the crate back.
If they do, then ask how you should return it. Considering they lost it, it should be their obligation to pick it up. You really should not have to go out of your way. If you have to spend a fortune to ship it, spend hours driving, or invest in it in any way, then they should pay you for your time and effort.
On the other hand, if they say its just not worth the effort, to go ahead and keep it, because the name on the crate is free advertisement for them, then... you have your answer.
That's what I think you should do. More than a phone call will cost you, for something you may not get reimbursed for. So, I wouldn't do more than a phone call.
Now, if you get the run around on the phone call, lots of static, unanswered questions, or someone saying, "We've never had this happen before, we don't know what to do, we'll get back with you." Ask them "When?" Then insist .... well ... 2 days, 4 days, a week. When can I expect an answer. And if I don't get in answer within that time frame, I'm assuming your company does not care and I'm keeping it.
This way, you have done your due diligence, you remain true to yourself, and you'll not have regrets later. You may regret not having a step for your camper, but THAT is something you can live with!
Now, if you really don't have a conscious, then just keep it and forget all this moral decency thing I've just rambled on about. Either way ... be true to yourself. You are who you are.
But, having read through all the posts up to this point has changed my thoughts.
Just the fact that you even posted this question tells me you have a moral conscious and you are having a struggle inside you trying to determine what is right and what is not right. And here is my conclusion...
You have to live with yourself and with your own conscious. As a wise old man once told me, "Be true to yourself." In other words, you KNOW what the right thing is. If you try to convince yourself otherwise, you will forever not feel right about your decision and you'll struggle with that every time you look at the box and see the name of that company on it. You'll continue to convince yourself it was OK to keep it, but deep down inside, your conscious will not let you accept that. So, you are living a lie. You are NOT being true to yourself.
It originally was not yours and technically, the owner did not give it to you either. You could have left it on the side of the road and been done with it and never given it another though. But, you did pick it up, and now you have to find rest to your soul. Having internal peace and contentment is not worth anything material in this world. Don't sell yourself out.
Here's what I suggest. Make a true, genuine, 100% effort to contact the distributor on the crate. (Phone call is adequate). You may get trapped in voice-mail-hell, but hang in there until you can talk to a real person. Then explain your story and ask if they want the crate back.
If they do, then ask how you should return it. Considering they lost it, it should be their obligation to pick it up. You really should not have to go out of your way. If you have to spend a fortune to ship it, spend hours driving, or invest in it in any way, then they should pay you for your time and effort.
On the other hand, if they say its just not worth the effort, to go ahead and keep it, because the name on the crate is free advertisement for them, then... you have your answer.
That's what I think you should do. More than a phone call will cost you, for something you may not get reimbursed for. So, I wouldn't do more than a phone call.
Now, if you get the run around on the phone call, lots of static, unanswered questions, or someone saying, "We've never had this happen before, we don't know what to do, we'll get back with you." Ask them "When?" Then insist .... well ... 2 days, 4 days, a week. When can I expect an answer. And if I don't get in answer within that time frame, I'm assuming your company does not care and I'm keeping it.
This way, you have done your due diligence, you remain true to yourself, and you'll not have regrets later. You may regret not having a step for your camper, but THAT is something you can live with!
Now, if you really don't have a conscious, then just keep it and forget all this moral decency thing I've just rambled on about. Either way ... be true to yourself. You are who you are.
